Sobriety Checkpoint Results In

Drug, Fireworks Charges 

 Police report that although a sobriety checkpoint, which they held at Fairfield Hills on the night of June 17 and early morning hours of June 18, did not discover any intoxicated drivers, police did find one driver who was arrested on drug and fireworks charges.

Police said they stopped motorist Paul Hetherington, 18, of Pawling, N.Y., as he was traveling eastward on Wasserman Way, near its intersection with Trades Lane, at about 11:20 pm on June 17.

While interviewing Hetherington, police said they noticed a bag of a green, leafy substance in plain view on the front passenger seat of his vehicle, which then tested positive for marijuana.

During a search of the vehicle, drug paraphernalia and fireworks also were found, police said.

Police said they charged Hetherington with possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of fireworks.

After processing the arrest, police released Hetherington on $500 bail for a June 30 court appearance.

During the course of the multihour checkpoint, police also handed out three infractions, issued one written warning, and made 39 verbal warnings to motorists.

During the checkpoint, police stopped hundreds of passing motorists in seeking to get drunken drivers off the road. Police conduct such high-visibility checkpoints to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries that occur due to drunken driving. Police publicize such DUI enforcement projects to deter drunken driving by motorists.

The Federal Highway Safety Program provides grant money to the town to cover 75 percent of the costs for sobriety checkpoints.